Category Archives: Prototypes
Is It Conceivable? – Part 5
Apparently, this IS conceivable
Some of us have dreams when it comes to toy collecting. Complete a collection of variant minibots, own a particular sub-line of pre-Transformers, have a graded sealed collection of G1 across a few years of release or a run of Japanese exclusive Transformers, those are serious ambitions but to some reasonable degree they are – according to and as defined by …
Posted in Action Masters, Beast Wars Neo, Diaclone, European Transformers, Generation 2, Japanese Transformers, Lucky Draw, Masterpiece, Mexican Transformers, Micro Change, Minibots, Paperwork, Prototypes, Reissues, Source Articles, US Transformers
Tagged Astrotrain, Defensor, G1, G2, Hasbro, Hot Rod, Hotspot, Menasor, Protectobots, Prototypes, Ramjet, Stunticons, Takara, Test Shots, Transformers
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Is It Conceivable? – Part 3
Iga Pipes, Hasbro and Kabaya Huffer
Welcome to the jungle. This is no place for collectors who dwell in the safe confines of AFA cases or between walls of MISB Japanese Transformers. The minibot collector and variant hunter has to get his hands and feet dirty travelling well off the beaten path. Digging up histories of countries not previously associated with …
Posted in European Transformers, Japanese Transformers, Mexican Transformers, Micro Change, Minibots, Prototypes, Source Articles, US Transformers
Tagged Antex, Argentina, Beachcomber, Brawn, Brazil, Bumblebee, Ceji, El Greco, Estrela, Europe, Gears, Hasbro, Huffer, Iga, Japan, Kabaya, Lynsa, MB, Mexico, Micro Change, Minibots, Peru, Prototypes, Rubiplas, Seaspray, Seven, Takara, Transformers, Venezuela, Warpath, Windcharger
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The Ones That Got Away
Missed for 75 Euros on auction
In a competitive market place, vintage toy collectors have to have their eyes and ears open the whole time in order to nail rare items. But we can’t always be everywhere, all the time. Sometimes real life and circumstance mean that we miss key auctions, deals, emails and opportunities. Other times a lack of experience, funds or better judgement …
Posted in Diaclone, European Transformers, Japanese Transformers, Minibots, Prototypes, Source Articles, US Transformers
Tagged Diaclone, Finnish Diaclone, Galaxy Shuttle, Gears, GiG, Grapple, Joustra Diaclone, Lynsa, Marlboor Wheeljack, MB Transformers, Peru, Powered Convoy, Skywarp, Starscream, Windcharger
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Leap Of Faith
Faith in your friends
If you change your mind, I’m the first in line. Honey I’m still free, take a chance on me. But what if you don’t have time to make up your mind? A split second decision can be the difference between a phenomenal victory after a leap of faith, or an unmitigated and expensive disaster of bad judgement. If you’re into rare toys …
Posted in Diaclone, European Transformers, Japanese Transformers, Lucky Draw, Mexican Transformers, Micro Change, Minibots, Paperwork, Prototypes, Source Articles, US Transformers
Tagged Black Tracks, catalogues, Diaclone, God Ginrai, Hasbro, Joustra, Lucky Draw, Mirage, MTMTE, paperwork, Sideswipe, Skids, Sunbow, Sunstreaker, Tracks, Transformers
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Look Closely
Where's Bruticus's head?!
Toy catalogues are wonderful things, we’ve even looked at them before on Source Blog here and here. In addition to the waves of nostalgia washing over us every time we look at a vintage Hasbro Transformers catalogue included with the toys, there are loads of …
Posted in Diaclone, European Transformers, Minibots, Paperwork, Prototypes, Source Articles, US Transformers
Tagged 1986, 1987, Astrotrain, Blitzwing, Brainstorm, Broadside, catalogues, Chromedome, Cosmos, Crosshairs, Cyclonus, Fortress Maximus, Grimlock, Hardhead, Hasbro, Headmasters, Highbrow, Hot Rod, Insecticons, Metroplex, Mock-ups, Octane, Prototypes, Scorponok, Slag, Smokescreen, Sureshot, Targetmasters, Tracks, Transformers, UK, Us
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Escalation – A Collector’s Story
European G1 Starscream
It’s 1984 and you’re too young to remember The Transformers. It’s 1986 and you’ve seen “Arrival from Cybertron” on television and VHS many times. You are moved by Starscream’s traitorous behaviour and Mirage’s heroism. Your parents take you, your older brother and cousin to the biggest Toys ‘R’ Us around. While you’re looking at Teddy Ruxpin bears your mother says “Your brother and cousin have …
Posted in Binaltech Alternators, Car Robots RiD, Diaclone, European Transformers, Generation 2, Japanese Transformers, Mexican Transformers, Micro Change, Minibots, Movie, Paperwork, Prototypes, Reissues, Shows, Source Articles, Uncategorized, US Transformers
Tagged artwork, Black Tracks, BotCon, Diaclone, Finland, Joustra, Mexican Transformers, Mirage, Movie, Optimus Prime, Prototype, Reissue, Starscream, Tracks, Transformers
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The Shows Must Go On
Countdown to 2007 Movie
The Big Bang Theory, Comic Book Guy from The Simpsons, Trekkies, all of these popular culture landmarks have given the toy show and convention scene quite a lot of work to do when it comes to credibility among the general populace. But who cares what conformists think? Toy shows are great! And they don’t come much better than BotCon.
Regardless …
Posted in Movie, Prototypes, Shows, Source Articles, US Transformers
Tagged artwork, BotCon, Hartmans, Hasbro, Michael Bay, Movie, Optimus Prime, Prototypes, Rhode Island, TFsource, Transformers
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Alternators Artwork Gallery – Part 2
Alternators Meister original box artwork (Marcelo Matere)
The packaging for a Transformer is so much more to most of us than just a container for the toy we’re after and a pretty picture or two designed to entice us. As collectors we don’t usually need the box artwork to do any talking, we already know what’s inside and have made our decision, even moreso with newer …
Posted in Binaltech Alternators, Paperwork, Prototypes, US Transformers
Tagged Alex Milne, Alternators, Camshaft, Guido Guidi, Hasbro, Jazz, Marcelo Matere, Meister, Mirage, Paul Vromen, Prowl, Skids, Sunstreaker, Tracks
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Priorities
Finnish Diaclone Black Corvette Stingray - 'Black Tracks'
This is an article about priorities, but not just the kind of priorities that we usually discuss in this column. This is not purely a piece about choosing between Diaclones and Transformers, or between Mexican variants and minibots, between current releases and vintage, this is also about choosing between toys and a car or a house. It also …
Posted in Diaclone, European Transformers, Mexican Transformers, Minibots, Paperwork, Prototypes, Reissues
Tagged Ceji, Diaclone, Human Alliance, Iga, Joustra, Masterpiece, Mexican, Movie, Reissue, Transformers, Variants
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Collector Interview 01 – Morgan Evans
An impressive work of art, and a giant Lego statue
The Transformers and pre-Transformers community is made up of some of the most interesting, diverse and dedicated people I’ve ever met in my life. I’ve taken more enjoyment out of their company, knowledge and experience than any toy, cartoon or comic related to Transformers. This week sees TFsource Articles launch our Collector Interviews, the first in …
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